Grapevine Plant Named &#39;Cabernet Diane&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct, self rooted, variety of grapevine, “Cabernet Diane”, from a cross of “Cabernet Sauvignon” and “Norton”, which can be distinguished by its outstanding wine combined with high productivity, disease resistance, and cold hardiness superior to its acclaimed parent “Cabernet Sauvignon”.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Vitis spp hybrid. (“Cabernet Sauvignon” crossed with “Norton”)

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

“Cabernet Diane”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most grape varieties used for production of high quality wines around the world are of the species Vitis Vinifera. These V. Vinifera varieties, when cultivated in northern regions of the United States with a continental climate are often subject to serious injury or death from low temperatures during winter. V. Vinifera must also be grafted onto an American rootstock in order to be grown successfully. Although several wild Vitis species occur in colder regions of North America and eastern Asia, the wine made from these species generally has serious defects. Thus, a great need existed for grape plants that would combine the superior wine quality of V. Vinifera with the cold weather resistance and disease resistance of wild species yet be free of their unpleasant wild flavors. A grape breeding program conducted by Lucian W. Dressel at Davis, Calif. and at Winters, Calif. from 2000 to 2002 developed such varieties by combining various V. Vinifera with the native grape plant known as “Norton” (aka Cynthiana, aka Virginia Seedling).

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a new and distinct variety of grape plant designated ‘Cabernet Diane’ which produced dark black fruit highly suitable for red wine production, and has a combination of high wine quality, excellent cold hardiness, disease resistance, good productivity, and does not need to be grafted. It has proven to be well adapted to various states including California, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky and Iowa. Cabernet Diane resulted from a cross of “Cabernet Sauvignon” and “Norton” made in 2001 in Winters, Calif.

Cabernet Diane propagates moderately well from hardwood cuttings. Once rooted however the young plants quickly become established, and all Cabernet Diane plants propagated in this manner have been genetically stable, producing only dark black fruit with dark reddish bluish juice. The vines of Cabernet Diane have an abundance of tendrils and easily adapt themselves to a high wire cordon trellis system. Canes have a drooping growth attitude and are easily combed and trained. The bud break and bloom of Cabernet Diane are very late, typically after that of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Norton. Its flowers are perfect and self fertile. Cabernet Diane vines typically set a moderate to heavy crop. The fruit of Cabernet Diane is borne on medium sized clusters that are tight, compact and triangular in shape. The peduncles are Norton-like, being quite long. Where the five main veins join the petiole, the base of the veins (on the back side of the leaves) has a pinkish-red color that forms a five pointed red “star”. The berries are small to medium in size with a waxy bloom at maturity. Berry splitting and bunch rot have not been observed to date, nor has crown gall. In commercial vineyards on a normal spray schedule no disease problems have been noted from Black Rot, Downey Mildew, Powdery Mildew, or any other fungus disease or insects. Resistance to Pierce's Disease is unknown, but is being tested in Louisiana.

The fruit of Cabernet Diane can be fermented to produce a dry red wine that can be barrel aged to produce a wine in the classic style of a red Bordeaux or California Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has none of the flavors associated with wines made from either French Hybrid grapes or V. Labrusca varieties. Cabernet Diane's wine is deep crimson red and bright. The nose is reminiscent violets, blueberries, and is often earthy, like terra cotta.

Cabernet Diane is much more cold-hardy than its parent Cabernet Sauvignon and has the advantage of being self rooted so that even if the plant is killed to the ground it can be renewed from an underground sucker, unlike Cabernet Sauvignon. Unlike its other parent, Norton, its growth habits are quite orderly and manageable, and Cabernet Diane does not have to be grown on a double curtain system to be profitable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1—CabDianeLeafFront—A photograph showing the front view of a Cabernet Diane leaf.

FIG. 2—CabDianeLeafRear—A photograph showing the rear view of a Cabernet Diane leaf.

FIG. 3—CabDianeVine—A photograph showing trunk, canes, leaves and fruit after verasion in 2006.

FIG. 4—CabDianeBunches—A photograph of Cabernet Diane showing a close up of three typical fruit cluster after verasion, Aug. 31, 2006.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new grape.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following descriptions of Cabernet Diane apply to vines planted at the Mary Michelle Winery in Carrollton, Ill. in 2004. When dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics and approximations set forth as accurately as possible. Variations of the usual magnitude incident to climatic factors, fertilization, pruning, pest control and other cultural practices are to be expected.

Color codes used are those of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, copyrighted 2005.

-   Vine:     -   -   General.—Size. — The test grapevines of Cabernet Diane are             planted approximately 8 feet apart down the row and 10 feet             apart between the rows. The vine canopy extends from 0.75             meters to 1.0 meters out in to the row. The vines were in             their fourth leaf during the 2007 growing season. Vigor. —             When first planted, much more vigorous than Norton. When             mature equally vigorous as Cabernet Sauvignon but without             the rampant and unruly growth habits of Norton.             Productivity. — Productive, bearing 4 to 6 tons per acre             depending on pruning and growing conditions.         -   Trunk.—Surface texture. — Rough textured and furrowed and             only slightly shaggy. Bark color. — Brownish. Varies from             200A to 202A. Trunk circumference. — Very straight, round,             and uniform in diameter ranging from 2.4 cm to 2.7 cm at 40             cm height from ground to 2.2 cm to 2.5 cm at 600 cm from the             ground. -   Mature canes:     -   -   Size.—Thickness. — Canes that arise from dormant spurs vary             from 6 mm to 14 mm at 5 cm to 40 cm from bud. Canes are             relatively uniform in width, like Norton and do not taper             like Vidal.         -   Surface.—Smooth often finely striated.         -   Color.—Canes are reddish on top (45A) and light green             underneath (145A).         -   Internode length.—Varies widely depending on type of arm,             position on vine and the nature of the bud from which each             cane arose. From 3 cm to 4 cm on smaller shorter arms and             laterals and from 10 cm to 15 on larger canes. Varies from 9             to 14 cm on the stronger upper suncanes and from 3 to 5 cm             on lateral canes. -   Tendrils: Relatively long ranging from 14 to 30 cm.     -   -   Diameter.—Varies from 1.0 to 2.0 mm in thickness measured at             the base of the tendril.         -   Distribution.—Discontinuous.         -   Form.—Predominately bifid, although trifid tendrils may be             present.         -   Color.—Reddish brown (45A). -   Growing tips: Straight, and uniformly green (137C) -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—General. Like its parent Norton, the leaves             of Cabernet Diane can have a wide variety of shapes and             sizes on the same plant. Variations can be caused by the age             of the vine, the location where grown, the weather and any             number of other factors. Average blade length. 9 cm as             measured from the apex of the center leaf lobe to the             petiole junction. Size of blade. Small to medium, only             occasionally lobed. Shape. Orbicular. Galet coordinates:             135-3-48.         -   Shape of teeth along leaf margins.—Convex.         -   Length of teeth along leaf margins.—Small to medium and             variable, 2 to 4 mm in length.         -   General shape of petiole sinus.—U shaped, open.         -   Shape of upper leaf sinus.—When present, open with narrow U             shape.         -   Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface: Glabrous, smooth (137C)             Lower leaf surface: Rather dull and lighter in intensity of             color (138D). Upper leaf veins: Yellowish-green (2C) with a             slight blush of red color on the five main veins (44A) from             the petiole junction to the first main vein. Lower leaf             veins: The color of the five main veins from the petiole             sinus to the first branching vein is slightly red (44A),             beyond which they are yellow-green (2C).         -   Surface texture.—Rough.         -   Surface appearance.—Dull.         -   Lower surface texture.—Rough, dull.         -   Leaf petiole.—Length of petiole: 6 cm to 8 cm Petiole             thickness: 2.0 to 3.0 mm measured at mid petiole. Petiole             shape: Round, glabrous, smooth. Petiole color: Distinctly             red (58B) Length of petiole compared to mid vein: on average             about ⅔ the length. -   Floral cluster description:     -   -   Bloom timing.—Varies widely from year to year. Generally             late, slightly after Norton. May 10^(th) in 2006.         -   Cluster form.—conical to triangular.         -   Clusters per shoot.—usually three.         -   Floral cluster length.—average 80 cm.         -   Floral cluster width.—average 30 cm.         -   Cluster peduncles.—length 10 to 12 cm, thickness 3.0 to 4.0             cm.         -   Inflorescence.—Hermaphroditic.         -   Floral stamens.—Upright with normal size anthers.         -   Pollen amount.—Abundant.         -   Pollen color.—Pale yellow.         -   Calyptras separation from the flower base.—Complete.         -   Duration of bloom.—Average 10 to 12 days depending on             ambient temperatures during the bloom period. -   Fruit description—primary colors:     -   -   Date of maturity.—Sep. 15, 2006 in west central Illinois.         -   Bunch size.—medium.         -   Bunch length.—12 to 25 cm, not including the peduncle.         -   Bunch width.—10 to 15 cm.         -   Bunch form.—Triangular in shape. Usually well filled out             with small to medium tight bunches.         -   Bunch weight.—Average from 90 to 150 gm.         -   Bunch density.—Tight like Norton.         -   Peduncle length.—Long like Norton from 5 to 8 cm.         -   Peduncle thickness.—Ranges from 3.0 to 5.0 cm at the             peduncle base.         -   Berry form.—Round.         -   Cross sectional view berry form.—Globose.         -   Berry size.—small to medium 10 to 12 mm in diameter.         -   Berry weight.—2 to 5 gm.         -   Berry uniformity.—Excellent.         -   Berry pedicle.—small to medium size.         -   Length.—5 to 6 mm.         -   Thickness.—1 to 2 mm.         -   Attachment.—Very strong with no shatter at commercial             maturity.         -   Berry skin color.—Black with waxy bloom. 100% colored.         -   Berry skin thickness.—Medium.         -   Berry skin surface texture.—Smooth and glabrous.         -   Berry skin, tenacity to flesh.—Skin is tenacious to the             flesh.         -   Berry skin, tendency to crack.—Has never shown any cracking.         -   Berry skin, reticulation.—Surface is smooth with no             reticulations present.         -   Berry color.—Black (202A).         -   Berry surfaces.—Uniformly covered with a waxy, grayish             bloom.         -   Berry flesh color.—Light translucent green (145C).         -   Juiciness of flesh.—Similar to standard commercial wine             varieties. Much juicier than Norton, not as juicy as             Cabernet Sauvignon.         -   Berry firmness.—Very firm.         -   Berry juice.—clear, light and slightly pinkish at crushing.         -   Solids-sugar percentage (at maturity).—22.0 on Sep. 12,             2006.         -   pH of berry juice.—3.18 on Sep. 12, 2006.         -   Titratable acidity.—7.75 gm/liter.         -   Seed.—Viable, 3 to 4 per berry, average size and shape             for V. Vinifera.         -   Flavor.—Good, tart, sweet, typical V. Vinifera red wine             grape flavor.         -   Aroma.—Typical crushed red wine grape aroma. No wild aromas. -   Secondary bunches: Almost no secondary bunches have been observed in     normal years with no spring frost.

COMPARISON BETWEEN PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

The physical appearance of the vine of Cabernet Diane more closely resembles that of its parent Cabernet Sauvignon. Like Cabernet Sauvignon the leaves of Cabernet Diane are more modest in size and show fewer variations than do the leaves of its parent Norton. The growth habits are more orderly than Norton and it can produce normal crops of between 4 to 6 tons per acre without having to be grown on a double curtain trellis system. Cabernet Diane is far more resistant to the endemic vine diseases of the eastern US than Cabernet Sauvignon and it can be grown on its own roots.

The berries and bunches are much larger than Norton and the berries have fewer seeds making wine making easier.

COMPARISON BETWEEN CABERNET DIANE AND CRIMSON CABERNET The Vines:

Cabernet Diane and Crimson Cabernet are sister vines from the same cross of Norton X Cabernet Sauvignon and as expected would have many features in common. Each is a distinctly different vine, however, both in the vineyard and in wine character. Grown side by side the most noticeable difference is in the leaves. Most of the leaves of Crimson Cabernet are lobed, somewhat like its parent Cabernet Sauvignon, although some non lobed leaves are always present. Cabernet Diane is the exact opposite with most of its leaves being non lobed although it has the occasional lobed leaf. The petioles of Cabernet Diane also tend to be much redder in color than those of Crimson Cabernet.

The Fruit:

The bunches of Crimson Cabernet tend to be conical and usually have a small satellite wing. The bunches of Cabernet Diane are more triangular in shape.

The Wine:

Crimson Cabernet's wine is soft and smooth, early maturing and resembles that of Merlot. Cabernet Diane's wine is spicier and often has a bouquet not unlike that of Cabernet Franc with a slight pleasant aroma of the wood from pencil shavings. 

1. The new and distinct variety of grape vine herein described and illustrated and identified by the characteristics enumerated above (application Ser. No. 11/978,500). 